SOME BACKGROUND:

In 2019, Extraction Oil and Gas Company obtained permits to drill 32 new fracking wells on land just southeast of Longmont.  This is land for which Boulder County owns a conservation easement.  The proposed horizontal wells would have extended several miles west, across the county line into Boulder County and would have removed oil and gas from under Boulder County’s Open Space.  Boulder County owns the oil and gas under this protected land and aggressively fought plans for an industrial oil and gas operation there. 

In July 2022, Extraction attempted to force Boulder County into either 1.) leasing its rights to remove the fossil fuels from under its Open Space or 2.) compelling Boulder County taxpayers to help pay for the costs of drilling, spills and accidents (estimated to be more than $21 million) in exchange for getting 20% of the hoped for profits. Extraction applied to the COGCC to use the unfair tactic called “forced pooling” and expected to receive approval to start drilling in Spring of 2023.  

THE LATEST:

The COGCC hearing to rule on the forced pooling application had been repeatedly rescheduled, and in May 2023 Extraction unexpectedly withdrew its application (read articles here and here).  It is unclear why Extraction relented and whether this was a temporary or permanent end to the attempts to drill under Open Space land.  The fact that Extraction’s oil and gas extraction plans faced huge opposition from the community and local government may have persuaded them to give up their plans.  So congratulations activists, neighbors, and concerned friends!  Be assured that Colorado Rising will continue to monitor the situation and alert the community if this land is threatened by fracking again.